Page 131 - The Manga Guide to Biochemistry

Now let's backtrack
a little and enlarge the

area from the last
page. Palmitic Acid is synthesized from

malonyl-CoA by several enzymatic
reactions. Let's take a look!

Acetyl-CoA represents
the number of
carbon atoms
other than in CoA

and ACP.

Acetyl-ACP Malonyl-CoA

Malonyl-ACP

Acetoacetyl-ACP

These six steps D-3-hydroxybutyryl-ACP
are repeated trans-2-butenoyl-ACP
six times. Two
carbon atoms
are added to
the fatty acid

chain each time.

Butyryl-ACP

Palmitoyl-ACP

palmitic acid

So when malonyl-CoA is Soon, I'll be
formed,* this cycle keeps fatty acid!

going until fatty acid is
produced.

* The synthesis of malonyl-CoA is the rate-limiting reaction in fatty acid
synthesis. In other words, the formation of new fatty acids depends on
how quickly malonyl-CoA is formed from acetyl-CoA.